MediaTek looks set to push raw performance harder than ever with its next flagship smartphone processor, widely expected to be called the Dimensity 9600. A new leak suggests the company is preparing a major CPU redesign that, for the first time, adds two ultra-large ARM cores—an approach aimed squarely at maximizing speed in demanding apps, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
The information comes from well-known Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, who describes an upcoming chip using a 2+3+3 “dual ultra-large, all-large-core” CPU layout. While the post doesn’t directly name MediaTek, the tipster uses an emoji commonly understood in Chinese tech circles as a nickname for the brand—strongly implying the Dimensity 9600 is the chip being discussed.
If accurate, the Dimensity 9600 will reportedly be manufactured on TSMC’s N2P process. Compared with the earlier N2 node, N2P is said to deliver around a 5% to 10% performance uplift. That matters because MediaTek has been moving away from efficiency cores in its flagship designs, seemingly choosing to rely on cutting-edge fabrication improvements and higher-performance CPU cores instead of a traditional “big + little” mix.
The rumored CPU configuration is particularly eye-catching:
2 ARM C2-Ultra cores
3 ARM C2-Premium cores
3 ARM C2-Pro cores
This would be a shift from the current Dimensity 9500 CPU setup, which uses a 1+3+4 arrangement:
1 ARM C1-Ultra core (reported up to 4.21GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
3 ARM C1-Premium cores (reported up to 3.50GHz, 1MB L2 cache)
4 ARM C1-Pro cores (reported at 2.70GHz)
Moving from one ultra-large core to two could significantly improve peak multi-threaded performance and sustained responsiveness during workloads that can leverage more high-end cores—think high-FPS gaming, on-device AI tasks, real-time video processing, and intensive background activity. It also suggests MediaTek is positioning the Dimensity 9600 to compete at the very top of the Android flagship tier, where CPU burst performance often makes the biggest headlines.
On the graphics side, the leak also points to a next-generation ARM flagship GPU, expected to be introduced as the Mali-G2 Ultra. Early expectations include a design featuring 10 or more GPU cores and mandatory ray tracing support, which could translate into more advanced lighting effects in games and improved graphics features in future mobile titles. The timing mentioned aligns with a September 2026 announcement window for ARM’s newest GPU family, suggesting the Dimensity 9600’s graphics capabilities could be a key part of its performance pitch.
Finally, the tipster hints that the first phones powered by this chip could debut in September, making the months ahead an important window for more leaks, benchmarks, and device announcements. If the 2+3+3 configuration and TSMC N2P process hold true, the Dimensity 9600 may end up being one of MediaTek’s most aggressive flagship chips yet—built to prioritize top-end speed and next-gen gaming features.
